Recchi nominated for Masterton Trophy

Posted By
Dan Rowinski
On
April 7, 2010 @ 1:21 pm
In
General |
No Comments

Mark Recchi[1] has been nominated by Boston chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association for the 2010 Bill Masterton Trophy, presented to the player who exhibits “to a high degree the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”

“It is a great honor, obviously. I kept on plugging along here, and it also means I am old,” Recchi said. “There have been some great players who have been awarded this, and it is just a great honor to be able to play in the NHL[2] still, and I love it and it is nice to be recognized.”

The 42-year-old Recchi has played in all 79 games for the Bruins this season, collecting 17 goals and 25 assists for 42 points. He has gradually moved up the NHL’s all-time scoring and games played lists. He is now ninth all time in games played (1,569), 22nd in goals scored (562), 17th in assists (922) and 13th in points (1,484).

With all his accomplishments, Recchi said that he is leaning toward playing next year as opposed to going into retirement.

“I definitely am leaning toward the other way than I am towards retirement,” Recchi said. “I am still having a lot of fun, and this time of year coming up here is what we ultimately play for and I am looking forward to it.”

Recchi has been a dressing room leader for the Bruins since being acquired at the trade deadline last season, and the young Bruins appreciate having him around. Milan Lucic[3], who is half Recchi’s age, knows how important it is to have a veteran like Recchi available to him.

“Yeah, there is no question that he should be up for that award,” Lucic said. “You know, he comes to the rink and works hard every day. There are not a lot of 42-year-olds who can move like him, but he is great and he is a great leader. Definitely as a young guy he is someone you can look up to and even if you have a question about anything just someone you can talk to and he is there for you all the time. Congrats to him, and he has a great chance to win.”

Lucic said that the shock of playing with a future Hall of Fame member has worn off a little bit since Recchi’s arrival, but it is still great to be around the elder forward as he climbs various all-time lists.

“It was more so [a sense of awe] when he first came here, but obviously this year when he is moving up the goal ladder, it is fun to see, it is cool to see,” Lucic said. “One day when I am done playing I can say that I played with Mark Recchi, so that will be something cool to say.”

Bruins coach Claude Julien[4] has appreciated having Recchi around as a player as much for his play on the ice as well his ability to help the young players along, especially guys such as Lucic and Blake Wheeler[5], who should be able to make decent livings in the NHL[6] camped out in front of the net, Recchi’s forte.

“Well, we have talked a lot about that this year and rightfully so,” Julien said. “He has led us on the ice without a doubt, and obviously his experience in different situations in the dressing room and with our captain and assistants, he has been a good player that way as well. It is hard for young guys to not want to follow when they see a guy that has been around that long lead by example. His work ethic and commitment, I can’t say enough about what he has brought to our team this year.”